Adobe pushes DRM for Flash

Now Adobe, which controls Flash and Flash Video, is trying to change that with the introduction of DRM restrictions in version 9 of its Flash Player and version 3 of its Flash Media Server software. Instead of an ordinary web download, these programs can use a proprietary, secret Adobe protocol to talk to each other, encrypting the communication and locking out non-Adobe software players and video tools. We imagine that Adobe has no illusions that this will stop copyright infringement — any more than dozens of other DRM systems have done so — but the introduction of encryption does give Adobe and its customers a powerful new legal weapon against competitors and ordinary users through the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

we can see that the ability to openly download and remix video is part of a new ecosystem of amateur entertainment — watch Drama Prairie Dog and its countless responses:

• “Dramatic Prairie Dog vs. Kung Fu Baby (Best Remix Ever)”
• “Hollywood Zombies Dramatic Prarire Dog”
• “Dramatic Look Bond Remix”
• Drama Prairie Dog – Zoolander
• “Drama Prairie Dog — Kill Bill”
• (an obligatory Star Wars-related remix) “Darthmatic Chipmunk”